Sunday, November 7, 2010

Sunday's Obituary: Fredrick H. Richardson

My great-grandfather, George D. (Holcomb) Baker, was the illegitimate child of Rose Holcomb and Fred Richardson. According to family stories, Rose and Fred met while he was on a business trip in town. They had a short fling, which resulted in Rose becoming pregnant. Rose later married Carl Baker, and my great-grandfather assumed his last name (I am not sure if Carl adopted him, or not).

According to my great-grandfather's birth record, Fred Richardson was born in Rutland (with a ? next to the town's name), and his occupation was listed as "insurance". Upon researching any Fred Richardson's from the Rutland, Vermont area, I came up with one, the son of Clark and Harriet (Sargent) Richardson. Clark died eleven months prior to the birth of my grandfather. Could his son have traveled to Vergennes, where Rose lived, to take care of after-death matters regarding his father's estate (Clark was the owner of the Berwick Hotel in Rutland, and also ran a construction business)? It seems to be a viable theory that needs further exploration.

I am not certain that this Fred Richardson is my great great-grandfather, but I am also not certain that he isn't.

Frederick H. RichardsonDies at His Rooms After Long Illness With Cirrhosis of the Liver

After an illness lasting since March 20, Frederick H. Richardson of No. 51 Wales Street, died at his rooms, last evening about 8 o'clock with cirrhosis of the liver.
July 22, 1861, being the son of Clark F., and Harriett L. Richardson. His father built and for many years was proprietor of the Berwick Hotel on Center Street.

Mr. Richardson attended Harvard University for two years after spending some time in a preparatory school in Massachusetts. He was a charter member of the Rutland lodge of Elks, to which society he belonged until several years ago.

Mr. Richardson is survived by no near relatives, the nearest being cousins, among whom are George J. Sargent of Mendon and Henry W. Richardson of this city. There are other cousins on the Pacific coast. (Ruland Daily Herald, 12 Aug 1914)